In glorious sunshine on Saturday morning the 20th of June, over forty pilgrims, including a number of Knights of St Columbanus, set out in the footsteps of St Columbanus. The pilgrimage included walking and some kayaking along the route from Clonard to Trim in County Meath.
The theme of our walk/paddle was ‘A prayer for peace in our troubled world’. Another theme centred on cancer awareness and wellbeing.
All the pilgrims came closer to knowing the Creator as they walked along the beautiful country lanes and paddled in their kayaks on the River Boyne.
The pilgrimage group gathered at 9am in St Finnian’s Church, Clonard and listened to a thought-provoking reflection from parish priest Fr Tom Gilroy.
Following a short presentation on the essence of Turas Columbanus and the important role we can all play in bridge-building by Br Tomás Hodgins, who is the Knights of St Columbanus representative on the Friends of Columbanus, the pilgrims were sent on their way with a few words of wisdom from Br TJ Reilly.
St Finnian and his twelve Irish apostles and St Columbanus and his twelve followers were intrepid missionaries and this was an important thread for the pilgrims.
Pilgrims on the River Boyne. Photo: Fr Pat Colgan.
Safely topped and tailed by support cars and using Turas Columbanus way-markers, the pilgrims first made their way to Inchamore Bridge. There they were treated to a warm welcome and light refreshments at the home of Michael and Linda Gunne.
Fifteen pilgrims then took to their kayaks in the nearby River Boyne while the remainder continued on foot, all headed for Trim parish church.
Stories were told, friendships and memories were made, worries shared, and seamless teamwork and good fun was had by all thanks to the Knights of CK40 and the Friends of St Columbanus working with the local community.
Turas Columbanus goes from strength to strength.